Publication: Microsoft
Publish Date: 09 June 2024
Author: Hope Mafu
As South Africa is within the perimeters of Youth Month, young people are under the microscope, with many events and lectures dedicated to the nuanced social issues they continue to encounter.
This year, the unemployment rate rose to 32.9%, with young people between the ages of 15 and 34 the most vulnerable to economic struggle and job opportunities.
Thus, the head of Youth Employment Service (YES) youth programmes, Aditi Lachman, outlined six tips for young people to be more admissible in the job market for experience and skills development, and mostly, strike down the unemployment rate.
YES is the country’s leading programme that collaborates with the private sector in order to combat unemployment by creating 12-month contract jobs for work experience for jobless young people. YES has thus far created 145 000 jobs which injected R7.9 billion into the economy.
Lachman noted that there’s a need for skills in highly in-demand jobs. Therefore, young people must source and hone rare in-demand skills for employability.
Developing one’s skills enables a person to acquire work experience while seeking employment.
“The jobs of the future are in areas like information technology, green energy, tourism, creative, drones and even baristas. To get into these industries, identify the skills required for the job you want, and find a way to get them. Skills and experience are very valuable additions to your CV – work experience makes you seven times more likely to transition into employment.
“Employers are not looking only at hiring people with a degree or some tertiary education. Instead, new-collar jobs take a skills-first approach to hiring and unlock opportunities for overlooked talent,” said Lachman.
Lachman emphasised that building soft skills and networking with industry people can create more job opportunities for young people.
“Many employers value soft skills. This is because communication, teamwork and problem-solving are essential for success in almost any job market,” said Lachman.
She further stressed that networking builds strong business connections and working relationships.
“Networking is crucial to getting job opportunities. Building relationships can lead to job referral and mentorship opportunities,” she said.
Lachman continued to encourage young people to start small businesses for economic sustainability and in turn increasing the chance of hiring other jobless youth.
“Side hustles provide fantastic work experience on your website, which is attractive to companies who are employing, as they want people who create value, solve problems and have a business mindset.“
Moreover, since job seeking is a terrible activity, especially after receiving countless rejections for jobs a person applied for, Lachman encouraged young people to keep their mental health in check.
“According to the UN Children’s Fund (Unicef), 65% of young people have some mental health issues but don't seek help. To help youth deal with the pressure of finding a job and how to deal with being jobless, YES launched the ‘YES Mindful Matters’ in 2023. This Initiative helps young people to access valuable online support services, delivered by registered counsellors,” said Lachman.